Left, Right & Center
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Provocative, up-to-the-minute, alive and witty, KCRW's weekly confrontation over politics, policy and popular culture proves those with impeccable credentials needn't lack personality. This weekly "love-hate relationship of the air" features four of the most insightful news analysts anywhere.
RECENT SHOWS
Is Hillary Finished? Did McCain Vote for Bush?
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There’s a sense in the Democratic Party that Hillary has to get out of the race. But as even Obama acknowledges, she’s likely to win at least two more primaries. So who’s really electable? And Arianna has gotten into a tiff with McCain: she heard him say at a dinner in LA, and others have confirmed, that he said he didn’t vote for Bush…a fact he strenuously denies. Arianna contends that there are two McCains, and that the one you see now isn’t riding the Straight Talk Express anymore.
Pastor disaster; Dems divided; Gas Tax, McCain and Economy
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The Democrats are divided, as today’s show will clearly prove. The focus on the Reverend Wright may be news but is it important, or just a distraction to fueling Republican strategists’ dreams? Is a gas tax amnesty a gimmick or a legitimate cost-savings plan for Americans? John McCain proposes a tax break voucher for individuals to buy their own health insurance, but would he even be covered under such a plan given his pre-existing condition? And despite the gloom, is the economy doing better?
Democrat Meltdown; McCain Policy; Race/Nuclear; News
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Wall-to-wall breakdown on the Democrats, as well as the flaws of both Democrats and McCain. The quickfire news rant continued the debate on race, nuclear policies and questioned whether McCain had abandoned his original values.
Obama slipup; McCain/Economy; Food riots; Pope; News
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Obama's 'bitter' fall out dominated Democratic debate was he misunderstood or is he plain elitist, the debate continued ferociously with our panel. Economic discussion includes McCain's recent proposals on military spending, support for homeowners and student loaners, Wall street hedge fund managers earning billions while the global economy is sinking and food riots; are Bio fuels contributing to the food crisis? Plus quick fire news rant.
Iraq; Free Trade; McCain/Mortgage; Clinton $; News
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Petraeus and Crocker testified before Congress this week about progress in Iraq, Bush signs onto the Petraeus plan, the candidates give it their own spin, and so do our panelists. The free trade debate: Mark Penn loses all the way round, strangely all panelists agree on this topic. Greenspan says “don’t blame me” for the mortgage debate and McCain changes his tune, now says, don’t blame borrowers either. The Clintons tax return shows exactly how well they’ve been doing – is it really our business? Tony’s weekly column takes on the news biz – more commentary, less reportage make us all a little more ignorant.
US Job Losses; Dr King’s Dream; Primary News
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On the economic front, 80,000 jobs have been lost; 5.1% unemployment is higher than ever. Are we in recession? Whose fault is it? There’s bipartisan blame all around. And a NY Times poll says most Americans believe we are on the wrong track…Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 40 years ago (today as we go to air). Is his dream for equality still alive? Has socioeconomics trumped race? And the world’s speediest lightning round on the latest primary news.
Iraq Split; Candidates on Economy; Primary Roundup
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Iraqi forces are battling rebel elements from Shi’ite cleric Sadr’s army. Is Iran behind the mayhem? Will the US decide to align with Sadr in taming Iraq? Is McCain’s response to the mortgage crisis his Herbert Hoover moment? How does his economic plan stack up against Clinton’s and Obama’s? Howard Dean wants the nomination wrapped up by July; who should drop out? Will Gore step in?
Obama on Race; Iraq Five Years Later; Osama speaks
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Barack Obama gives his speech in reaction to the Reverend Wright controversy. Will it help him or hurt him? Five years after US-led coalition forces invaded Iraq, is it Mission Accomplished yet? And a very brief word on Osama bin Laden’s latest threat tape to Europe.
The Economy; Ferraro; Obama's Pastor; Spitzer-Men in Power
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The Fed's bailing out Bear Stearns but Pres Bush gives upbeat economic assessment. Are we in recession yet? After diminishing Obama, Geraldine Ferraro steps down from the Clinton campaign. After Obama renounces his Pastor's controversial comments, the Pastor steps down from his Chicago church. Plus, Spitzer's resignation: what's the trouble with men in power?
The Democratic Death Match
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Does Hillary have the edge; Can Barack be tough enough? Will Michigan and Florida get do-overs? Will it be the economy stupid? Or national security issues? Plus, Samantha Power calls Hillary a monster – she’s off Barack’s team. It’s an all-Dem show this week, and all four are in studio to talk about it.
3am Ad; NAFTA; Russia election; US Prison Crisis; WFB
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Hillary’s “It’s 3 am – who do you want to answer the phone” ad: Is this the Democratic endgame at play? Bob loses patience; Tony defends her – sort of. Is NAFTA really evil? Or are the Dems using trade to pander for votes? Russia’s having an election – sort of. The designated winner is Putin’s proxy. A new Pew Survey says blacks and Hispanics are imprisoned more than whites. Is it crime or racism? And remember William F. Buckley, the founding father of modern conservatism.
McCain vs the New York Times; Demo Debate; Foreign News Round-up
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Will another shoe drop in the New York Times' story on McCain and the blond lobbyist? The CNN Debate between Hillary and Obama once again demonstrates there's very little substantive difference between their policy positions. Lightning round on the news from abroad: Bush supports Kosovo; in Pakistan, the people win; and Fidel's farewell.
Obama and Hillary race; Dems v. McCain; The Economy
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Obama's movement - is he unstoppable? Wife Michelle Obama an authentic voice and campaign asset. The new Hillary/Bill campaign strategy, negative ads and claims of injustice over Michigan and Florida delegates. How will McCain's strength (foreign policy) and weakness (domestic policy) compete with the Dems in a national debate? The alarming Economy; can more rate cuts really cut the mustard?
Election Round-Up
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Tony gives us a view from the floor at the conservative conference where conservative Mitt dropped out and moderate McCain came to ask for their support. Will the straight-talk express become the path to pandering? Bob has surprisingly kind words for McCain, plus a mini-round on VP prospects.
Primary RoundUp/Super Tues Preview; Endorsement War
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It’s down to two on the Demo’s side – Hillary and Obama’s debate showed a distinctly UN-divisive discussion. Is Obama’s star on the rise? Is Hillary really a hawk? On the Republican side, does Mitt Romney have a chance or will Mormonism derail him? And what’s the dilemma for McCain—will party loyalists come out for him?
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Hosts
Progressive independent Arianna Huffington is the editor of the online blogazine Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist and author of eleven books, including the recent Pigs at the Trough.
Tony Blankley is the editorial page editor of The Washington Times and author of the recently published book, The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations? from Regnery.
Matthew Miller (center/moderator) is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a bi-weekly columnist for Fortune magazine, and an award-winning contributor to The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic Monthly. He is also the author of The 2% Solution: Fixing America's Problems In Ways Liberals And Conservatives Can Love, a Los Angeles Times bestseller.
Robert Scheer is a syndicated columnist based at the San Francisco Chronicle and editor of the new online investigative magazine, www.truthdig.com. He has also authored six books, most recently The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq.
Schedule
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Tapes & Transcripts
A CD copy of Left, Right & Center is available by calling 1.888.600.5279
Transcripts are not available.
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